Epilepsy Action

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of everyone affected by epilepsy ”

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people with epilepsy

In this section

Adults

Children

What Disability Living Allowance is

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a tax-free social security benefit for people with an illness or disability who need help with:

  • getting around
  • personal care, or
  • both of these.

You can claim DLA even if you:

  • do not actually get the help you need
  • live alone, or
  • are working.

DLA is made up of two components (parts). You may qualify for just one component or both components.

  • The care component - if you need help with your personal care because of your disability.
  • The mobility component - if you need help to get around because of your disability.

How to apply for Disability Living Allowance

To apply for DLA, you need to complete an application form. There are two forms - one for people under the age of 16 and one for people over 16. You can order a claim pack by:

  • phoning the Benefit Enquiry Line for People with Disabilities:0800 88 22 00 (England, Scotland and Wales) or 0800 220 674 (Northern Ireland)
  • contacting Jobcentre Plus: 0800 055 6688, or your local social security office
  • downloading an application form from the Directgov website: http://www.direct.gov.uk/

Help with completing the Disability Living Allowance form

Many people find that their claims are more likely to be successful if they have help with completing the claim forms. You can get help from the following sources:

Tips for completing the Disability Living Allowance (adults) form

  • You don’t need to answer questions that don’t apply to you. 
  • Don’t assume that the person who deals with your claim knows about epilepsy or its symptoms and effects. Give lots of description and detail about your seizures and recovery time. Include anything that you think is relevant to your epilepsy. Don’t leave something out because you find it embarrassing.
  • Include information about any side-effects you experience from your epilepsy medicine.
  • Don’t worry if you give the same information more than once. It’s better to give too much information than not enough. 
  • Try to explain clearly the type of help you need, the reason you need it and when you need it. 
  • Make it clear what you think might happen if you didn't have supervision or someone keeping an eye on you.
  • Describe any past incidents to do with your epilepsy that could have resulted in harm to yourself or others if you hadn't had help.
  • Make it clear that you need help, even if nobody helps you at the moment. 
  • Put what you can’t do, not what you can do. 
  • It is a good idea to use the terms ‘bad days’ and ‘better days’ rather than ‘bad days’ and ‘good days’.
  • Try to give an average number of bad days over a given period of time (for example eight days out of 14). You stand more chance of succeeding if you can show that you need help on most, or all, days of the week. 
  • Keep a diary of your seizures. This can help you to work out how much help you need over a period of time. It can also be used as supporting evidence for your claim.
  • If you have other illnesses or disabilities as well as epilepsy, ask for help in answering questions about them. This may be from your doctor or another organisation who knows about that condition. If you would like help to find details of a particular health organisation, phone the Epilepsy Helpline, freephone 0808 800 5050 or send an email to http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/services/ehelpline.html 

Rates of Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is paid at different amounts, depending on the amount of care or help with mobility you need. This table shows the different levels of DLA. It was correct at the time of writing, October 2011.

Care allowance


Level 

Qualifying age 

Qualifying needs 

Amount 

High

3 months - 64 years 

Care needs throughout the day and night 

£73.60 a week* 

Middle 

3 months - 64 years  

Care needs throughout the day or night 

£49.30 a week*

Low 

3 months - 64 years  

Care needs at certain times or when cooking 

£19.55 a week* 

Mobility allowance


Level 

Qualifying age 

Qualifying criteria 

Amount 

High 

3 years - 64 years 

Unable/virtually unable to walk 

£51.40 a week * 

Low 

5 years - 64 years

Needs guidance and supervision when moving around 

£19.55 a week* 

Self assessment for Disability Living Allowance

Epilepsy Action has published a Guide to completing the Disability Living Allowance (adults) form for people with epilepsy. The introductory pages C and D will help you decide whether DLA may be the right benefit for you.

Online self assessment

Go to the online version of the Self assessment form for Disability Living Allowance for adults page. Answering the questions on there will help you decide whether to apply for DLA.

You can order the full guide from our shop, or by ringing the Epilepsy Helpline freephone 0808 800 5050.

Applying for Disability Living Allowance for a child

If you would like to find out if a child with epilepsy may be able to get DLA, you may find it helpful to contact Cerebra: http://www.cerebra.org.uk/: tel 0800 328 1159. They have produced a step-by-step guide to claiming DLA for children under 16 with brain-related conditions, including epilepsy.


We can provide references and information on the source material we use to write our epilepsy advice and information pages. Please contact our Epilepsy Helpline by email at helpline@epilepsy.org.uk.
Code: 
F060.05
  • Updated November 2011
    To be reviewed November 2012

Comments: read the 7 comments or add yours

Comments

I applied for DLA five years ago after suffering tonic clonic episodes, to which I have to say had my husband and son not been present at those times I would not be here today. My consultant blocked my application for the benefit, for what reason I dont know. I have since gone on to have frequent night seizures and so I am going to try again, hopefully with a bit moe success as epilepsy has disrupted all of my families lives not just mine. Thank you for the information on this web site.

Submitted by susan young on

Hi I suffer from Grand Mal Epilepsy, I've had this since I was 2 years of age, I am on three types of tablets for my epilepsy, I have Petit Mals frequently, with these it affects my speech whilst in a Petit Mal, and requires my husband to be there, or someone, if out at work, to keep an eye on me as these can just continue into a Grand Mal, I cannot say when they will or wont when a Petit Mal will happen. My Petit Mals occur monthly, how many a day I cannot say as they come on and go when they like. My last Grand Mal I had left me paralysed for several hours after I came out of it after being taken to hospital. Everytime I have a Grand Mal I always have to have the paramedics called as I don't come out of them myself, I have to have Diazepam put into my vein on back of my wrist, and be taken to hospital. I appled for DLA but told I wasn't eliglible for it. Could you help me with more information about this please.
Kelly.

Submitted by Kelly on

Hi Kelly

Epilepsy Action has a written guide to help people with epilepsy wishing to claim the DLA. Although it’s aimed at helping people applying for the DLA, it may also be helpful for revisions or appeals against the DLA decision. If you wish to receive a copy, you can order it from our shop, or by emailing or phoning the Epilepsy Helpline. Our contact details are helpline@epilepsy.org.uk and freephone 0808 800 5050.

You may also wish to get help from one of the following organisations who specialise in welfare benefits. They can provide more information about your eligibility to receive the DLA and help you to complete a revision request or appeal if needed.

If you think it will help to talk to someone on our helpline team regarding your epilepsy, please feel free to contact us. You can email or phone us using the above contact details.

Diane

Advice and Information Team

Submitted by Diane@Epilepsy ... on

The hole system is rubbish l don't have seizures all the time it works out about once every six months l am on tablets but am still having seizures and these last at least half hour and once the seizure stops l will get up and start moving around once this happened l turned the oven on and went to bed it was lucky my Mum come home from work in time or the house could have burned down with me in it. Once l do come to become aware of whats happened l'm vary tired and need to sleep/rest for the rest of the day and can still fill the effects the next couple of days muscles feel tight like the feeling you get from cramp so it hearts to move around.
Some times l can feel it coming on some times not l don't know what job l am meant to do l used to work on a biulding site l had a sezure and my employer told me l could not work there anymore l worked at NEXT in the warehouse when my Gp asked if l was working l said yes in a warehouse he asked if l was using a ladder l said yes he then told me l should not be doing that as it was dangeras the only other job l had was working for Sainsbury's as a trolly boy and looking back at it that was just as unsafe working walking in around a bisy car park.
l am not aloud to drive which l agree with totally but it seems to me that whoever makes these desisions think that its ok if l have a seizure and heart myself but not ok to drive incase l have a seizure and heart others l think its a joke my doctor said l should restrict use of computers as much as possibe not use machinary commen seance stuff l don't see why l should put myself in danger coz the people from the job centre say l can work becuase l can work l have worked before but not safely how anyone can say it is safe for people with Epilepsy that is not controlled to work is a mistory to me you cannot get a bus driver licence couch licence unless you are seizure free for ten years l think that should be the case for work it should be controlled for ten years before you can work.
l also think People with Epilepsy are made to feel bad even lazy because they do not want to put themselves in danger.

Submitted by Paul Wellard on

hi im 16 and i have nocturnal epilepsy, i have only just got it under control after 5 years or so, and im not sure if i should claim dla,

Submitted by antonia on

Hi Antonia

It’s great that your seizures are now controlled, after 5 years of having them, isn’t it? However, if you aren’t having any problems with your epilepsy, and you are asking about claiming DLA because of epilepsy, you wouldn’t qualify for this benefit.

Advice and Information Team

Rosanna

Submitted by Rosanna@Epileps... on

Hi, I have eplilepsy, took it 12 years ago and when I did I applied for dla and receive middle care and low mobility. Although this is not relevant I was working and got the sack for taking siezures so I applied for ESA and after a while I was sent for a medical which I failed because aparantly I'm conscious and awake during waking hours so now I'm on jsa. I do get extra money on jsa because they say I'm severely disabled. The system is totally messed up. For anybody who wants to apply for dla for epilepsy do as there is people out there making false claims and shouldnt be getting it. It's not hard once you get the forms filled out properly but make sure you make a photocopy of them before you send them off as you might not remember what all you wrote down and when they might send a doctor out to your home. Good luck.

Submitted by Michelle on

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